Car Camping and Backcountry Eating

Staying healthy and hydrated are essential components of any excursion to the outdoors. Here are some of our favorite things to snack on and cook! We love food, so if you have any meal suggestions, please let us know!

Campfire Hobo Stew

Brought to us by our leaders Sam, Christian, and Brewster...Ingredients can include beef or chicken, garlic, tomatoes, onions, peppers, potatoes, carrots, jalapenos, sliced cheese, and seasoning (salt, pepper, garlic powder).Lay out a piece of foil, shape it into a bowl, add any ingredients you want. Shape the foil into a ball and place on hot coals, cook for 30-60 minutes. Peel open the pouch and eat with a fork! Our leaders tried a variation with chicken, potatoes, onion, carrot, pepper, and pineapple.

Date + Nut coffee bar

Want to upgrade from the normal power bar? Gather 2 cups of nuts (cashews, walnuts, peanuts, or a mix), 1/4 cup roasted coffee beans, 1 1/2 cup pitted dates, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. In a food processor or blender, blend nuts and coffee beans together until coarse. Add dates and salt and blend until the mixture starts to ball up. Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap and press down the date and nut mixture evenly. Put in fridge to set for an hour, and then remove and cut into bars. You could also experiment with coconut and cacao nibs!

sweet and spicy tuna couscous

This works well if you combine the couscous and vegetables into serving sized portions in plastic bags before leaving home. On the trail, add just enough water to cover the couscous and vegetables (could place in jet boil or bowl). Stir well, let sit for 5 minutes, stir in tuna and serve.

hot chocolate oatmeal

Oatmeal is a staple for our breakfasts here at Into the Wild. This variation of oatmeal goes over extremely well, even with oatmeal haters. Shun the non-believers!

Take 1 packet of instant oatmeal, 2 spoonfuls of peanut butter, either half or a whole packet of hot chocolate. Dump ingredients into a mug (make sure your mug is big enough or it will overflow and we will get ANTS). Add hot water, stir well, let sit, stir some more, give it a try, fuel for your day! You can also throw in dried fruit or nuts. Maybe chia seeds if you bring some along.

Oatmeal is a great breakfast and trail food because the oats are slow release carbs that help you feel fuller for longer, and the fiber provides you the energy necessary to sustain until lunch.

things we love

mini hot sauce (sriracha, cholula, tobasco...)

Gives any dehydrated meal a little extra KICK. Don't you just love that?? Get fired up!

jetboil

Boils water in a heartbeat, good for warm tea, hot chocolate, coffee, oatmeal, and bringing any dehydrated meal to life.